Taylor Frankie Paul’s Ex Dakota Mortensen Granted Temporary Custody of Son Ever Amid Investigation

Taylor Frankie Paul‘s ex Dakota Mortensen has been granted temporary custody of their son, Ever, amid their ongoing domestic violence investigation.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, March 20, Mortensen, 33, was awarded temporary custody of Ever, 2. Mortensen was also granted a temporary protective order against Paul, 31.

Per the filing, Paul is not allowed parent time or visitation pending the pair’s upcoming hearing scheduled for April 7. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star can be arrested if she violates the order.

Mortensen filed for a protective order on Thursday, March 19, shortly after video resurfaced of Paul throwing a pair of stools at him during an incident from 2023. Paul was previously arrested in February 2023 following a heated argument with Mortensen. She was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief.

Paul pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charges at the time. The remaining charges against her were dismissed. (Paul is also mom to daughter Indy, 8 — who could be heard crying in the aforementioned video — and son Ocean, 5, whom she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul.)

After the video of Taylor and Mortensen’s altercation made headlines, ABC announced its decision not to move forward with Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 22.

“We have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time,” a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television told Us in a Thursday statement. “Our focus is on supporting the family.”

Taylor subsequently issued her own statement about the cancellation. “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security,” the reality star’s rep told Us. “After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”

Mortensen also released a statement in response to Paul’s comments, telling Us, “As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

Taylor and Mortensen’s 2023 incident made headlines after the pair were allegedly involved in another domestic altercation last month. A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department told Us that “contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24th and 25th” regarding an alleged dispute between the exes. The spokesperson added “allegations have been made in both directions” and that there is an open “domestic assault investigation.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.